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Proper arrangements for Ebola checks in place, says PM | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Britain has "proper arrangements" in place to screen people who may have contracted Ebola, the PM has said. | Britain has "proper arrangements" in place to screen people who may have contracted Ebola, the PM has said. |
David Cameron told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show current measures ensured people could be taken to a hospital for testing in cases of uncertainty. | |
It comes after nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who had worked in Sierra Leone, was allowed to fly from London to Glasgow despite raising health concerns. | It comes after nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who had worked in Sierra Leone, was allowed to fly from London to Glasgow despite raising health concerns. |
She was later found to have the virus and is now in a critical condition. | She was later found to have the virus and is now in a critical condition. |
Mr Cameron said he had chaired an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday to discuss the case, and was listening to medical experts about whether further screening measures were required. | |
He reiterated that in cases of uncertainty, patients should be taken to the Northwick Park Hospital in Middlesex to be observed. | He reiterated that in cases of uncertainty, patients should be taken to the Northwick Park Hospital in Middlesex to be observed. |
'System of quarantine' | |
Ms Cafferkey, a public health nurse, was diagnosed with Ebola in December after volunteering with Save the Children to fight the disease in Sierra Leone. | Ms Cafferkey, a public health nurse, was diagnosed with Ebola in December after volunteering with Save the Children to fight the disease in Sierra Leone. |
On her return to the UK, she raised concerns about her temperature with officials at Heathrow but - after testing - was allowed to continue her journey home to Scotland. She was diagnosed in hospital the next day. | |
At Heathrow her temperature was taken a six times over a 30-minute period, but each test found her temperature to be normal. | At Heathrow her temperature was taken a six times over a 30-minute period, but each test found her temperature to be normal. |
Asked whether airport screening was failing, Mr Cameron said: "What I have said very clearly is that we should have a precautionary principle in place. | Asked whether airport screening was failing, Mr Cameron said: "What I have said very clearly is that we should have a precautionary principle in place. |
"If you're still in doubt, if there is uncertainty, there [are] proper arrangements for you to go to Northwick Park Hospital in Middlesex to be observed and have further tests there before going further. That is happening already." | "If you're still in doubt, if there is uncertainty, there [are] proper arrangements for you to go to Northwick Park Hospital in Middlesex to be observed and have further tests there before going further. That is happening already." |
He also said that if medical experts advised that a "system of quarantine" needed to be put in place, he would make this happen. | |
"It is important to listen to the medical experts, then make a decision," he said. | |
Mr Cameron added he was thinking of Ms Cafferkey and her family at this difficult time. | |
On Saturday, the Royal Free Hospital in north London - where Ms Cafferkey is being treated - said she had "deteriorated" and was in a critical condition. | |
It is the second UK case of Ebola. Another nurse - William Pooley - recovered from Ebola in September after also being treated at the Royal Free Hospital. | |
Passengers traced | |
Ms Cafferkey, from South Lanarkshire, has been given an experimental anti-viral drug and blood from disease survivors in a bid to get her immune system to beat the disease. | |
She originally left Freetown in Sierra Leone on Sunday 28 December and made her way to Glasgow after stopping at Casablanca, Morocco, and London's Heathrow. | She originally left Freetown in Sierra Leone on Sunday 28 December and made her way to Glasgow after stopping at Casablanca, Morocco, and London's Heathrow. |
Officials from Health Protection Scotland have spoken to all 71 people aboard the British Airways flight from Heathrow to Glasgow that Ms Cafferkey took - a Public Health England (PHE) spokeswoman has said. | |
And all 101 UK-based passengers and crew aboard the Royal Air Maroc flight from Casablanca to Heathrow have been contacted by PHE officials. | |
Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, such as blood, vomit or faeces. | Ebola is transmitted by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, such as blood, vomit or faeces. |
The virus has killed more than 7,800 people, almost all in West Africa, since it broke out a year ago. | The virus has killed more than 7,800 people, almost all in West Africa, since it broke out a year ago. |
The World Health Organization says the number of people infected by the disease in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea has now passed 20,000. | The World Health Organization says the number of people infected by the disease in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea has now passed 20,000. |